[Chapter-delegates] BROADBAND TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM

[Chris Grundemann]

Hi all,

Just wondering if any U.S. chapters have plans or ideas to apply for a
grant under the "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009" (aka
stimulus package).  I found "Title VI -Broadband Technology
Opportunities Program" intriguing.  From what I gather, this program
will see $4.7 billion and one of its goals is to "provide broadband
education, awareness, training, access, equipment, and support".
Also, I wonder about the broader question of government grants in
general; is this something that ISOC chapters have ever taken
advantage of?  I can understand not wanting to be too beholden but on
an individual project level what are the arguments against?


As for this bill (H.R. 1), here is the most relevant text:

TITLE VI—BROADBAND TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM
[...]
SEC. 6001. BROADBAND TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM.
[...]
(b) The purposes of the program are to—
[...]
 (3) provide broadband education, awareness, training,
access, equipment, and support to—
   (A) schools, libraries, medical and healthcare providers,
community colleges and other institutions of higher education,
and other community support organizations and
entities to facilitate greater use of broadband service by
or through these organizations;
   (B) organizations and agencies that provide outreach,
access, equipment, and support services to facilitate greater
use of broadband service by low-income, unemployed, aged,
and otherwise vulnerable populations;
[...]

Title VI is pretty short and worth taking a read in full; it starts on
page 398 and can be found here:
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:h1enr.pdf

Thanks!
~Chris


-- 
Chris Grundemann
www.chrisgrundemann.com